Samuel wild



(N0 Model.)

s. WILD.

. EXERGISING APPARATUS. I No. 389,622. Patented Sept. 18, 1888.

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SAMUEL WILD, OF BASLE, SWITZERLAND.

EXERCISING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,622, dated September 18, 1888.

Application filed May 15,1888. Serial No. 274,008. (No molel.) Patented in France July 14, 1887, No. 184,561, and in Belgium January 10, 1888, No. 80,226.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL WILD, a resident of Basie, in the Republic of Switzerland, and a citizen of said Republic of Switzerland, have invented an Improved Exercising Apparatus, (for which I have obtained a patent in France, No. 184,561, dated July 14, 1887,, and in Belgium, No. 80,226, dated January 10, 1888,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved gymnastic exercising apparatus to be used in gymnastic exercises for developing .and strengthening the muscles of the arms and expanding the chest by stretching the arms apart against the resistance of elastic springs held in the hands, the body being in any position. The improved apparatus. may also be used as an ordinary vaulting staff or pole for preliminary gymnastic exercises without the use of the springs, so that it combines in itself an ordinary exercising staff or pole and an equivalent to the elastic devices-such as india rubber cords-ordinarily used for muscle-exercising purposes.

Figure 1 on the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section illustrating the apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a view of the stirrup.

The apparatus comprises a bar, A B, of steel, iron, or other suitable material and of proper length, its two ends being screwed to receive the nuts J J, against which abut the rings H H, preferably of hard fiber. At the center of the length of the bar is fixed a metal ring, 0, which serves as a'stop. Round the bar at each side of the stop 0 are fitted freely two steel or brass tubes, D E, of which the ends D are fitted with metal rings F F,sliding upon the bar and guiding the inner end of tubes,which are of sufficient internal diameter to allow a helical spring, G, of sufiicient strength to fit between the bar and the tube, the outer end of the springs being retained by the rings or washers H H, over which the tubes slide.

By holding one of the tubes in each hand the arms can be extended against the elastic force of the springs and brought together again, the operation being repeated as often as desired.

When the apparatus is to be used as an ordinary staff or pole, caps or stops may be screwed upon the ends of rod A B instead of nuts J J, by which the tubes may be kept from moving; or the tubes may be fitted with hollow caps K K, screwed upon them, having openings M M therein, to which stirrups (such as shown in Fig. 2) can be hooked for the purpose of exercising the muscles of the legs, said stirrups being shaped as most convenient of a strip or piece of steel or iron into the desired form, and provided at the top with a curved part or hook, as shown, suitable for hooking into hole m, the hook being formed with said stirrups, or attached thereto by a cord or chain.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, lS

An exercising apparatus comprising the bar A B, tubes D E, springs G, and stops 0 H H, all arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes described and shown.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of April, 1888.

SAMUEL \VILD.

Witnesses:

EMILE KANTELE, G. ANTHONISSE. 

